Bundaberg Regional Council’s Post

I posted a few months ago that I've joined the committee for Change It Ourselves - an alliance of business owners who believe in changing the date that Australia celebrates our national day on. We've just launched a LinkedIn page for #ChangeItOurselves - if you're interested in learning more about how your business or workplace can get involved, please give us a follow. #AustralianBusiness #BusinessOwner

On 26 January, Australians come together at hundreds of events hosted by councils and local community groups to reflect, respect and celebrate with their communities.   Australia Day is about so much more than the events of one day – it is about where we have come from, who we are as a nation and what we aspire to be. On our national day we can reflect on our complete and complex history and understand that acknowledging and reconciling our past helps lay a path to a stronger future. We respect and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ survival, resilience and over 65,000 years of continuous culture. It’s also a day we can pay respect to the stories, histories and contributions of the Australians who lived, worked and fought for the values and freedoms we sometimes take for granted. It is a day that will mean different things to each of us. We are all shaped by our own experiences, and we celebrate living in a dynamic, multicultural nation where everyone’s views, beliefs and contributions are valued. #AustraliaDay   Source: Adapted from National Australia Day Council, https://lnkd.in/gGZ7NfXf

26 January, designated as Australia Day, continues to be a day divided. Divided by a day of celebration by some of the British colonisation of a land now called Australia. Divided by a day of mourning and commemoration by our First Nations peoples of being invaded, killed, massacred, and marginalised. We need real, collaborative, compassionate conversations that seek to understand rather than judge. Conversations that seek to unite rather than further polarise. Conversations that require letting go of some long-held views and making new meaning of what it means to be Australia. Conversations that need us to truly listen. This is one worth listening to and learning from. https://lnkd.in/epJu8gcH What conversation are you willing to enter into to generate togetherness that will enable Australia and all Australians to thrive? 26 January is a day for all of us to Reflect. Relate. Reconcile. This is the Evolve Communities R3 Culture. This is the way towards a one-Australia future. #PracticalReconciliation #Allyship #ReflectRelateReconcile

Engaging in discussions about Australia Day with individuals who oppose changing its date can be challenging. It is essential to approach such conversations with empathy and a willingness to understand differing perspectives. Many Australians view January 26 as a day of national pride, celebrating the country's achievements and history. However, for many Indigenous Australians, this date marks the beginning of colonization and associated hardships, leading to feelings of mourning and loss. To foster a meaningful dialogue, it is helpful to: - Educate Yourself: Understand the historical significance of January 26 for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. - Listen Actively: Allow space for Indigenous voices to share their experiences and perspectives. - Seek Common Ground: Focus on shared values, such as a desire for unity and mutual respect. - Promote Inclusivity: Discuss ways to honor all aspects of Australia's history in national celebrations. By approaching the conversation with respect and openness, it's possible to engage constructively, even when opinions differ.

🌏 **Australia Day Reflection: Bread or the Key?** 🌏 As we ponder the image of the prisoner choosing bread over the key, it prompts a deeper question: What do we prioritize in our own lives and as a nation? Is it immediate survival or the freedom to create lasting change? Australia Day often invites us to reflect on our history and where we stand today. Like the prisoner, as a nation, we sometimes face decisions that balance the "bread"—the tangible needs of the present—with the "key"—the opportunities for long-term freedom, reconciliation, and growth. 🍞 **The Bread of Today:** For many, Australia Day is about celebrating our achievements, culture, and unity. It’s about acknowledging the comforts we enjoy and the progress we’ve made. Yet, for others, the day highlights the ongoing struggles—the fight for recognition, equality, and justice. 🗝️ **The Key to Tomorrow:** Choosing the "key" means acknowledging the deeper challenges we must unlock as a society. It means committing to understanding each other's stories, honoring Indigenous perspectives, and creating a future where everyone feels seen and valued. ✨ **A Balanced Choice:** We can celebrate the bread while reaching for the key. We can honor our present while striving for a future that reflects the values of fairness, respect, and unity. **Your Challenge:** This Australia Day, ask yourself: *Am I focused on the bread, or am I reaching for the key?* Can we, as individuals and as a community, nourish today’s needs while unlocking the potential for a brighter, more inclusive tomorrow? Let’s use this day to reflect, connect, and build a path where every Australian feels they belong—whether through action, conversation, or simply choosing to listen. #AustraliaDay #ReflectionAndGrowth #LiveAndLetLive #UnityInDiversity

26 January holds different meanings for Australians. While some celebrate Australia Day, many recognise it as Survival Day—a time to reflect on the experiences and continued inequities that face First Nations peoples today. It’s also a moment to engage in meaningful conversations about reconciliation and equity. Personally, this day prompts me to reflect on my role in fostering reconciliation. Polarising views emerge this time of year and acknowledging the complexities of 26 January is essential for understanding a way forward. One way to support our teams is to hold space for conversations that are open and curious in nature that seek to understand both perspectives. I encourage businesses to start or continue their journey by embedding First Nations voices in decision-making. This is not just about changing a date or moving ahead with the same one. This is about long term engagement, commitment and recognition of the history and status quo in our workplaces, communities and systems. One impactful initiative I’ve seen is organisations offering teams public holiday swap for January 26 to be used either at a time culturally significant to them or in Reconciliation Action or NAIDOC weeks. A good place to start is to learn more is the Uluru Statement from the Heart: https://lnkd.in/g3UZv7gE

A recent The Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) poll revealed that 69% of Australians believe Australia Day should continue to be celebrated on the 26th of January—an increase from last year. Furthermore, 86% of Australians express pride in being Australian. Notably, support for celebrating Australia Day on the 26th spans all age brackets, with a significant rise among 18-24-year-olds, increasing from 42% to 52%. This marks a powerful cultural shift, signaling a renewed sense of national pride. If this momentum continues, we could witness a modern resurgence of the “Roaring Twenties” in Australia. #AustraliaDay #SecondComing #RoaringTwenties #EconomicRevival #AussieEconomy #Australia #SecondComingOfTheRoaringTwenties #EconomicGrowth #InnovationDownUnder #EntrepreneurshipAustralia #BoldIdeas #LeadershipAustralia #CulturalTrends #MakeAustraliaGreatAgain

The NRW25 theme has been announced,🔸️Bridging Now to Next🔸️ The theme urges us to look ahead and continue the push forward as past lessons guide us. At a time when Australia faces uncertainty in its reconciliation journey, this theme calls on all Australians to step forward together. Twenty-five years ago, Corroboree 2000 brought together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous leaders in a historic call for reconciliation. 25 years of Reconciliation in Australia. In 2025, we are looking forward to seeing: 🔸️more guidance - for the sector to Bridge Now to Next, 🔸️more genuine mutually beneficial collaborations - to make this a reality, 🔸️more involvement of diverse First Nations voices in decision making - to represent wider community and provide fresh perspectives 🔸️ more understanding of the outcomes of actions/deliverables - to equip organisations to be more efficient and strategic, in planning and implementing reconciliation plans - so we can maximise what we can achieve as a sector together 🌿

🎉 New Year, New Reflections, and a Wish for 2025 🌍📖 Sliding through New Year’s editions of Irish newspapers 📰 and listening to the morning radio summaries 📻 has inspired me to share a thought close to my heart. Ireland is a vibrant, diverse society, with people of different nationalities, races, beliefs, and backgrounds contributing to its growth and spirit every single day. 🌈 Yet, as I flipped through these pages and heard the news highlights, I couldn’t help but notice how often our shared stories—those of multicultural Ireland—are either absent or mentioned only in passing. For example, 2024 was a year of historic firsts: Galway welcomed its first African-origin councillor, and several migrant-origin candidates stood in local elections.✊ These milestones, alongside inspiring events like African Day 🌍☔ (celebrated even through the rain!) and Galway protests, where people of all nationalities stood together against evictions, reflect a society united in solidarity and resilience. But these moments weren’t given the spotlight they deserved in my local newspaper. Instead of showcasing the incredible multicultural fabric of our nation, the narrative too often feels selective, focusing on a fraction of what truly makes up Irish life today. 💡 My wish for 2025 is simple: let’s tell the whole story of Irish society. One that reflects not just its challenges but also its triumphs. One that captures the diversity of its people and celebrates the unity we create together. Media has the power to inspire and connect us and could build a vision of Ireland that truly includes everyone. 💪🌟 Here’s to a new year of inclusive storytelling and shared progress. 🥂✨ #Diversity #Inclusion #IrishMedia #NewYearReflections #MulticulturalIreland

🌟 Exciting News from DIFE! 🌟 We are thrilled to introduce our new video series, produced as part of the Digital Integration for Equality (DIFE) project! 🎥✨ The DIFE project, an Erasmus+ funded initiative, aims to support the social integration of refugees, migrants, and Roma communities through lifelong learning and education. Our first video in the series focuses on Civic Engagement, highlighting the importance of active participation in society for creating positive change. 📚 The DIFE project addresses critical challenges such as language barriers, educational inequalities, and discrimination by offering courses in active citizenship, integration into the labour market, reproductive health, and digital literacy. These courses are available in multiple languages, including English, Romani, Arabic, Farsi, and the local languages of our consortium partners. 👥 By providing these resources, we aim to empower individuals from vulnerable groups to fully participate in and contribute to their communities. Stay tuned for the release of all 8 videos in this series, covering various topics related to our project results. We will be sharing them on all our platforms, so be sure to follow us to stay updated! Together, let's bridge the educational divide and promote equality for all. 🌍💪 #DIFE #ErasmusPlus #LifelongLearning #SocialIntegration #Refugees #Migrants #Roma #EducationForAll #DigitalLearning 📺 Watch the first video on Civic Engagement now: https://lnkd.in/davia-Au